Day 20- officially

Even though I've been using a warped day counter, this is officially the 20th day of our competition with the family. My progress has been slow. I haven't lost that much actual weight, but I have noticed small changes to my body. Those kinds of things actually inspire me much more than a number on the scale ever could.

I started the competition weighing in at a whopping 244.2 pounds. Just last night, I clocked out with 239.4 pounds and that was at the end of the day. I know I weigh more at the end of the day than when I first wake up, so I have been weighing myself then each day to push me that much harder. So, almost 5 pounds lost. That's pretty good if I do say so myself. Especially since I started this competition 7-8 days late with being sick.

I have adopted Bill Phillips' Body for Life program as a guide for this particular competition. I tried it once and I started showing great results, and then I just... inexplicably...quit. I have no rhyme or reason for it, especially since I was getting fit. Story of my life. But this time, I have a set time frame, I have goals and I have 110 pounds of unnecessary baggage to rid myself of.

I haven't incorporated the exercising portion of the lifestyle in it's entirely just yet. I am focusing on perfecting my eating habits first, seeing as they are the biggest reason I am this big. The basic guidelines state that eating 6 times at about 3 hour intervals will yield the best results. Couple that with making sure each meal has a lean protein and a complex carb makes it even better. Then throw in vegetables with at least 3 of those meals tops off a great way to eat and live.

This isn't a diet. This is a way of life. I don't have to adjust it since I am nursing. I can eat this way for the rest of my life. Hence the title, Eating for Life. This book has been a great help. It outlines menus for me when I'm not feeling too particularly creative. It is chock full of recipes that I have come to love and recommend on a regular basis. I am just excited about this.

Even if I don't win this competition and the "booty" that it offers to the winner, I am going to love the booty that this program will give back to me. I feel that I am well on my way.
I have a plan for the exercise portion. In the mornings, I will do my daily walk/jog before everyone gets up. That's been a little sketchy this past week since I'm trying to get up between 5 and 5:30 in the morning. (I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON!) Then I go about my day as I normally would, eating at the correct times. I find I am actually hungry right about the time I should be. Seems something's starting to change- namely my metabolism! yay! Then at night, for the coup de grace, I will go to the gym for my weight and strength training. All in all, I will only be working out for a total of about an hour and half throughout the day, but it will be more productive to do it that way.

Now I just need to work off that enormous pan of homemade caramels my sister Elizabeth made for me. (Or rather, for Pasquale on his birthday) It was so good. I think it was intended to sabotage anyone making progress. She casually left a couple pans there at the house and I think Nicole enjoyed her share. I'm probably the only one it will effect. Some people can eat an entire cake and tub of ice cream and the only result is an upset stomach or sugar high. I lick a lollipop and I found myself another saddlebag that wasn't there yesterday.

I did learn a valuable lesson this past weekend while I was in Vegas visiting family. When I eat sugar, I don't get a sugar high anymore. I go straight to the sluggish, tired feeling of crashing. It's amazing how fast it happens now too. I used to eat something sweet to give me a short burst of energy. That doesn't even happen anymore. I have never had a response to sweets like that, but I'm glad there is an immediate cause and effect that is tangible. Maybe it will help get rid of any sweet tooth cravings I get.